Ashleigh Buhai slipped to a share of 15th on Friday after a one-over-par 73 in the second round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida.
At two-under-par for the tournament, she was six strokes behind the lead which was held at eight-under-par by former world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Japan’s Ayaka Furue. Ko had a five-under-par 67, while first-round leader Furue signed for a one-under-par 71. They led by two from Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and Gaby Lopez of Mexico.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson and Alexa Pano – at 19, the youngest player in this week’s field – will begin the weekend three shots out of the lead. Both shot 70 on Friday.
Ko and her 34 competitiors in the limited field will be tested this weekend with a cold front expected to drop temperatures into the low 40s Fahrenheit. On Friday, she and a few other late finishers, including Furue, dealt with rain at the end of the round.
“It wasn’t easy, especially the wind picking up after nine holes,” Ko said. “So that’s going to be the mindset for the next couple days… but definitely glad that I’m done and it’s still raining outside.”
Paula Reto is the only other South African in the field, and she improved to a one-under 71 in the second round to move to two-over in 30th place.
